Symptom / Need

Wolkvox users need to understand how media storage is handled on the system, especially with regard to performance and security, to ensure an optimal and secure experience using chat features such as Web Chat, WhatsApp, and Telegram.

Context / Scenarios

Performance Optimization: Administrators and developers looking to improve system efficiency when managing media files.
Data Security: IT teams that need to ensure that media files are protected from unauthorized access.
Scalability: Companies that require a scalable storage solution to handle large volumes of multimedia data.

Answer (Solution / Recommendation)

Media storage on Wolkvox is optimized using Google Cloud Storage, which provides several benefits in terms of performance and security:

1. Google Cloud Storage:
   1. Media files are not stored in databases using base64 encoding. Instead, lightweight URLs pointing to files stored in Google Cloud Storage are used. This approach reduces the load on the database and improves system efficiency.
2. API performance improvements:
   1. Using lightweight URLs instead of heavy text strings significantly improves API performance for features like Web Chat and WhatsApp. This results in faster response times and a better user experience.
3. Security layers:
   1. Multiple layers of security have been implemented to protect stored files. These include:
      1. List Lock: Prevents unauthorized access to the list of stored files.
      2. Secure File Management: Ensures that files are managed securely within the storage environment.
      3. Access Policies: Control who can access files, ensuring that only authorized users can access them.
      4. Encryption: Protects stored data through encryption, ensuring that information is protected both in transit and at rest.
      5. Lifecycle Management: Enables efficient management of file lifecycles, including secure deletion of obsolete files.